Selecting Pipes and Valves for Industrial Fluid Lines

Sample article. Will be updated by the website admin.

A piping system is only as reliable as its weakest component. Choosing pipes and valves that suit the fluid and the operating conditions prevents leaks, premature wear and costly downtime.

Questions to answer first

• Fluid: water, steam, oil, chemicals or slurry?
• Pressure and temperature: both normal operation and upset conditions.
• Corrosion and abrasion: determines material and wall thickness.
• Standards: the design code and standards required by the project.

Pipes

Carbon steel pipe is a common choice for water, steam and oil lines. Seamless and welded pipes each have their place depending on pressure, size and budget. Always confirm the schedule or wall thickness required by the design.

Valves

• Gate valves: full flow, used for on/off isolation.
• Globe valves: suitable for throttling and flow control.
• Ball and butterfly valves: quick operation with compact size.
• Check valves: prevent backflow.